[Brodiaga]

(01-03-2015 12:15 PM)Brodiaga Wrote:  

I've been using a Victory rechargeable e-cig for the last couple of years, also smoking the real ones occasionally. I got that e-cig basically for free with 5 cartridges, just ran out of the last one. These cigs are nothing special, but they do the job.

A few days ago, I ordered this vaporizer http://www.groupon.com/deals/gg-atmos-da...izer-kit-1
Waiting for it to be delivered. I'm not advertising it and maybe I shouldn't have ordered it given that the liquid they send has no nicotine, and it's tobacco flavor, but for $25 I'll give it a try.

I also found this pretty cool E-pipe on ebay for around $40 and will probably order it.


The problem with e-cigs is that they are not that cheap. A small bottle of e-liquid starts at around $15. It's pretty cool for occasional vaping, though.

Let me add something to this post based on my experience.

If you are new to vaping, don't buy shitty cheap vaporizers when you're starting out. Like, that e-pipe from my previous post is a piece of shit. The e-juice container is made of plastic which will crack pretty soon even if you don't drop it. They include a replacement, but if it cracks in a couple of weeks it's not going to help much either.

I spent a lot on shitty "starter kits" from Groupon, fancy looking pipes and cheap shit on ebay. All of them either leaked, cracked/broke or didn't produce enough vapor. If it spills in your pocket or leaves some e-juice in your mouth while you vape, that's just shit no matter how cheap it is.

If you are new to this, just go to a good vape shop, talk to the sales staff, try different vaporizers they sell and buy the one you like. You'll pay a premium, but it will be cheaper than buying all the cheap shit and throwing it away. Later on, you can find similar vaporizers and replacement parts on ebay for less.

As a minimum, I recommend buying a good vape mode (battery) where you can change the voltage and wattage and a vaporizer (the glass thing where the e-juice is stored and converted into vapor as you inhale) made from tempered glass which won't break if you drop it.

One question I have: where do you guys buy e-juice? I order it online from Vista Vapors. It's pretty decent and much cheaper than buying from local vape shops, but maybe there are better web sites out there. Also, the taste is hit or miss.

[aeroektar]

I started making my own e liquid about 3 months ago, prior to that I was buying a couple 240ml bottles every couple months.

With DIY you can make some amazing liquid for dirt cheap, I buy PG and VG by the gallon, I buy my nicotine in concentrated 1/2 liters. Flavors are abundant and cheap from multiple vendors. All the stuff I buy is high quality and affordable, if a juice company was using these ingredients they would be charging a premium and calling it gourmet e liquid. Its amazing how much better the stuff I make is compared to the budget and even high end juice I was buying for years. It cost me about $200 all said and done to get started and I have enough supplies to last me a year or two.

I get my supplies at http://wizardlabs.us/ and I get flavors at http://www.bullcityvapor.com/

DIY e liquid calculator http://e-liquid-recipes.com/create

A good place to start for recipes and information http://diyordievaping.com/category/recipes/

As far as hardware goes, I think its smart to buy right the first time so you have stuff that will last years and wont need to be replaced. Mods (the actual electronic device that powers the atomizer) that use replaceable batteries are best because obviously when the rechargeable batteries die its cheaper to replace those then the whole mod.

Everything I use runs on 18650 batteries which keeps things easy and streamlined, these batteries are abundant and used in all kinds of applications, its best to stick to batteries made by Samsung, LG, Sony and other major manufacturers.

I own 10 of these Samsung 25R batteries https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-INR18650-...B00NUI46HM

This charger is cheap and does 4 at a time https://www.amazon.com/NITECORE-Intellic...B00KBFZDI8

I like having a few mods that are small and take one 18650 for when I'm at work our out doing things, something thats reliable and fits in a pocket, I have a couple IPV D3 mods for this but they are hard to find now, but all of these are cheap and good too, if your starting I recommend you buy any 2 of these:

http://www.myvaporstore.com/Innokin-Cool...-cf485.htm
http://www.myvaporstore.com/Eleaf-iSmoka...is7570.htm
http://vapenw.com/mod-pvs/box-mods/evic-vtwo-mini

I have a couple RX200 mods, they are cheap, popular (so theres a lot of info out there about them) and bullet proof. They are big, I use them around the house or in the car.
https://www.eciggity.com/reuleaux-rx200-...gn-wismec/

I've tried a lot of atomizers, and now I own 3 of these and they are all I use, they are the easiest to build and the least fussy ones I've found. https://www.eciggity.com/serpent-mini-rta-by-wotofo/
25mm version is the same but holds more liquid https://www.eciggity.com/serpent-mini-25...by-wotofo/

I buy this package from ebay for organic cotton wick and wire, this will last a long time.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SS-316L-Japanese...SwNuxXaDpP

Building coils is easy and you only have to do it every couple months, I've had coils last up to 6 months and only changed them because it seemed like it was time for a new one but they could have kept going. Rewicking your atomizer is a weekly thing because they get kinda funky after a few days, which is why I use the serpent mini, it takes about 2 minutes and is really simple and easy.

This video covers coil building and wicking.

I've pretty much future proofed my vaping set up, the only things I need to buy now are consumables maybe once a year, possibly a new mod if one breaks or I see something I really like. All things considered I'll probably spend $150 per year for the foreseeable future.

[LeeEnfield303]

If you don't otherwise know, the FDA has essentially issued a 'rule' to kill off e-cigs in the main. Not sure what the fallout will be.

I may be asking aeroektar how to build my own before too long. Been vaping about two years now and completely agree with the advice in this thread.

RE: juice, I used to order online but have been giving my local vape shops the business instead for the last year. I fear almost all of those small shops will go out of business due to this FDA 'ruling.'

[aeroektar]

Yup the new FDA regs are bullshit, as of August 8th manufacturers can no longer bring new products to market, only products that have been on the market prior to that date can legally be sold, effectively stifling the market which has seen a lot of innovation over the last few years.

The only way new products can enter the market going forward is through an expensive (million dollar) and lengthy application process, for existing businesses or those who want to enter the market this applies to every single item, so you are cut out unless you have serious dough.

Businesses have 2 years to register their products, that means you have 2 years to buy what's currently on the market, then 99% of it vanishes.

Things will vastly change for the worse unless we can get a bill like hr2058 or the cole/bishop amendment passed (bills that call for a reasonable change to the regs, visit August8th.org to learn more).

This is going to wipe out a lot of small businesses and a lot of very successful businesses. The FDA is handing the vape industry to big tobacco.

[Brodiaga]

(08-14-2016 07:52 PM)aeroektar Wrote:  

Yup the new FDA regs are bullshit, as of August 8th manufacturers can no longer bring new products to market, only products that have been on the market prior to that date can legally be sold, effectively stifling the market which has seen a lot of innovation over the last few years.

The only way new products can enter the market going forward is through an expensive (million dollar) and lengthy application process, for existing businesses or those who want to enter the market this applies to every single item, so you are cut out unless you have serious dough.

Businesses have 2 years to register their products, that means you have 2 years to buy what's currently on the market, then 99% of it vanishes.

Things will vastly change for the worse unless we can get a bill like hr2058 or the cole/bishop amendment passed (bills that call for a reasonable change to the regs, visit August8th.org to learn more).

This is going to wipe out a lot of small businesses and a lot of very successful businesses. The FDA is handing the vape industry to big tobacco.

Can they still make the same products which they've been making already? Can they produce more e-liquid of the same kind, for example?

[aeroektar]

(08-14-2016 08:13 PM)Brodiaga Wrote:  

(08-14-2016 07:52 PM)aeroektar Wrote:  

Yup the new FDA regs are bullshit, as of August 8th manufacturers can no longer bring new products to market, only products that have been on the market prior to that date can legally be sold, effectively stifling the market which has seen a lot of innovation over the last few years.

The only way new products can enter the market going forward is through an expensive (million dollar) and lengthy application process, for existing businesses or those who want to enter the market this applies to every single item, so you are cut out unless you have serious dough.

Businesses have 2 years to register their products, that means you have 2 years to buy what's currently on the market, then 99% of it vanishes.

Things will vastly change for the worse unless we can get a bill like hr2058 or the cole/bishop amendment passed (bills that call for a reasonable change to the regs, visit August8th.org to learn more).

This is going to wipe out a lot of small businesses and a lot of very successful businesses. The FDA is handing the vape industry to big tobacco.

Can they still make the same products which they've been making already? Can they produce more e-liquid of the same kind, for example?

Yes but only for 2 more years, if they haven't successfully jumped through the FDAs hoops at that point they are operating illegally.

[UlteriorMotive]

Having been a smoker for the last 10 years and only recently within the last 3 months managing to switch completely to vaping I insist that anyone wishing to quit goes into a real store and tries everything out.

I had struggled with using kits like "IMECIG" and garbage convenient store versions.

I purchased a Innokin Cool Fire IV Plus off amazon for around £40 and a few decent E-Juices online (Cosmic Fog - Sonrise / Element - Strawberry Whip) and have been enjoying it a lot so far.



The throat hit is what I was really looking for and a little bit of a fiddling about with the Wattage / Air flow was all I needed to be satisfied.

I feel a lot better overall since switching over and would not think of going back now.

[Lime]

(08-15-2016 09:31 AM)UlteriorMotive Wrote:  

I feel a lot better overall since switching over and would not think of going back now.

In what sense do you feel better now? Do other people also have this experience?

[DarkGable]

I switched from cigarettes to vaping in December last year, I was previously a 10-20 a day smoker for over a decade. My setup consists of 2 Kangertech EMOW kits for now, however I am looking to "move up" and get more heavy duty kit at some point.

My breathing has greatly improved and the occasional chest pain that I used to have has disappeared.

[UlteriorMotive]

(08-17-2016 08:24 AM)Lime Wrote:  

In what sense do you feel better now? Do other people also have this experience?

I can breathe a lot deeper now, cardio is becoming a lot easier, taste buds are back making everything taste great, teeth are becoming noticably whiter which I have had comments on, smell a lot better overall.

The amount of money I've saved since switching is also bonus.

[aeroektar]

(08-17-2016 08:24 AM)Lime Wrote:  

(08-15-2016 09:31 AM)UlteriorMotive Wrote:  

I feel a lot better overall since switching over and would not think of going back now.

In what sense do you feel better now? Do other people also have this experience?

I smoked a pack a day for 8 or 9 years. I used to get chest pain especially after stuff like a full day of snowboarding, had bags under the eyes, coughing up shit, all the stuff that comes with smoking. Quitting stopped all of that. Feel better now then when I was 20.

[Dr. Howard]

(08-14-2016 09:47 PM)aeroektar Wrote:  

(08-14-2016 08:13 PM)Brodiaga Wrote:  

(08-14-2016 07:52 PM)aeroektar Wrote:  

Yup the new FDA regs are bullshit, as of August 8th manufacturers can no longer bring new products to market, only products that have been on the market prior to that date can legally be sold, effectively stifling the market which has seen a lot of innovation over the last few years.

The only way new products can enter the market going forward is through an expensive (million dollar) and lengthy application process, for existing businesses or those who want to enter the market this applies to every single item, so you are cut out unless you have serious dough.

Businesses have 2 years to register their products, that means you have 2 years to buy what's currently on the market, then 99% of it vanishes.

Things will vastly change for the worse unless we can get a bill like hr2058 or the cole/bishop amendment passed (bills that call for a reasonable change to the regs, visit August8th.org to learn more).

This is going to wipe out a lot of small businesses and a lot of very successful businesses. The FDA is handing the vape industry to big tobacco.

Can they still make the same products which they've been making already? Can they produce more e-liquid of the same kind, for example?

Yes but only for 2 more years, if they haven't successfully jumped through the FDAs hoops at that point they are operating illegally.

excellent. I have my eye on a couple of storefronts that are 'vape shops' right now that I can probably swoop in on when the market starts to shrink/consolidate with all this bullshit.

Say what you want, but I think vaping will go through a contraction after the 'fad' phase like crossfit is doing right now. Instead of 15 crossfit gyms in a small city, there will be probably 3-4 in about 3 years.

If you are in it to make money now, have an exit plan as its not going to be gold forever.

[Lime]

(08-18-2016 01:31 PM)Dr. Howard Wrote:  

Say what you want, but I think vaping will go through a contraction after the 'fad' phase like crossfit is doing right now. Instead of 15 crossfit gyms in a small city, there will be probably 3-4 in about 3 years.

Do you mean that vaping is a sort of temporary 'fashion'? Do or did you ever smoke and what are your experiences with vaping (nicotine)?

I would think that vaping only becomes more and more popular as an alternative for smoking.

[UlteriorMotive]

Bump

Thread (Lounge) on E-Cigarettes / Vaping in EE.

Link to thread.